The 10 commandments of a Church Crawler

1 Thou shalt do thou research

Once you’ve identified which churches you would like to visit, step one is do your research with architectural and art-historical guides. I always enjoy using local guides too. They tend to include more local and social history, and can add a bit of colour to 'dry' architectural guides.

2 Thou shalt plan, plan, plan

Prior planning is essential to any successful church crawling trip. 

Start by researching the basics:

• WHEN WILL THE CHURCHES BE OPEN?
• DOES THE CHURCH HOLD SERVICES AND IS THEREFORE UNAVAILABLE ON CERTAIN DAYS AND AT CERTAIN TIMES?
• WHEN DO SERVICES, CONCERTS OR OTHER EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN THE CHURCH? WOULD I LIKE TO COMBINE MY VISIT WITH SUCH AN OFFER?
• DO I NEED TO CONTACT A KEYHOLDER IN ADVANCE TO GAIN ACCESS (another top tip – be super nice to key holders, they are literally the gatekeepers of churches)?
• IS PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED?
• DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR A PHOTOGRAPHY PERMIT IN ADVANCE?

And don’t forget the basic logistics. Where are you going to park? Are there public amenities nearby? A place to grab food if you don’t fancy a packed lunch?

Then double check some more: check on a map before you leave.

When it comes to your toolkit, your camera is probably your most important item. Don’t forget to check it before you set off and CHARGE YOUR BATTERY. Carry a spare one if you can.

And last but not least, wear some warm clothes. Churches are cool places, even in summer.

3 Thou shalt look to the future when considering the past

Church crawling is definitely moving with the times.

Look for up-to-date information for tourists and other visitors to churches on the Internet, including opening times and keyholder information.

4 Thou shalt not forget the exterior

Okay, so you’ve made it to your first church. Before you go in, just stop and look around. People rarely spend as much time looking at the exterior of the church as they do the interior, which is a great shame.

Exteriors don’t tend to have the same level of ornamentation or decor as the interior, so its harder to hide the changes that have been made to the fabric of the building over time.

5 Thou shalt not forget the churchyard

I don’t want to sound creepy, but I love a good wonder around a graveyard.

A church is nothing without its congregation, and its people make up half the history. I also love spotting the unusual names and peculiar designs.

6 Thou shalt support the church

Probably THE MOST IMPORTANT church crawling commandment of them all.

The very least you can do is sign the visitor book. This is then often used by churches as evidence when applying for grants and funding.

If you can, pop a small donation in the box. Every little helps when running and maintaining these old buildings. I always purchase a guide book or leaflet too. As well as providing further support for the church, I simply love having a small souvenir of my travels.

7 Thou shalt be respectful

Don’t be afraid to move things around if you want to take a closer look at something or get that perfect shot. Just don’t forget to be VERY careful and PUT.THINGS.BACK. The bottom line is simply be respectful.

8 Thou shalt raise your eyes unto the ceiling

Very often the ceilings of our churches are covered in wonderful bosses. Carry a pair of binoculars with you in order to get the perfect view of these architectural details.

9 Thou shalt take it all in

Whether you’re religious or not, take a minute or two to just sit down and soak it all in.

The peace, the tranquillity, the serenity. You can’t deny churches are very spiritual places and a welcome oasis of calm in a crazy, modern world. Just a couple of quiet minutes in a pew and you’re ready to face the world again.

10 Thou shalt be part of a community

Trust me – you WILL get hooked. Church crawling is seriously addictive.

Once you’ve done your exploring and got your photos, don’t be afraid about sharing them online. Seriously, there are hundreds of people out there who really want to know more about churches in your part of the world. And you can help them!

 

Claire Dory, https://www.the-shire.co.uk/stories/blog-10-commandments-church-crawler